Every now and then, I hear virtual assistants mention the need to have extra hours in the day, as it never seems to be enough. They are always busy yet unable to meet deadlines, satisfy their clients, and keep up with other tasks in their lives. While a lot of VAs struggle, other virtual assistants seem to have it all together. They are busy but not overwhelmed or burned out, they have satisfied clients, and they show up powerfully in other areas of their lives.
Below are three habits of successful virtual assistants:
- They are organized.
Working on and in your business requires a certain level of organization. You need to be able to meet deadlines and make your clients feel that they are the only clients you have, even when juggling multiple accounts/clients. The only way to do this is to have a system to carry out your tasks. I talk about this in detail in THIS BLOG POST on productivity.
- They automate.
Automating your day-to-day processes can free up a significant amount of time for you. It helps you increase efficiency and productivity, especially if these are processes you do every day. Quite a number of things can be automated, from emails to social media posts. Take advantage of automation wherever you can find it to shorten your turnaround time.
As a virtual assistant, I use Flodesk to automatically send my portfolio to prospects who send me an email on some specific portals. Discovery calls, client onboarding and offboarding, email autoresponders, business WhatsApp welcome messages, and quick replies on Instagram are a few automation tools that virtual assistants can take advantage of. CRMs like Trello and Asana also have great automation tools that are awesome.
- They are professionals.
Successful virtual assistants are professional in their business activities. These include their interactions with clients and team members, systems and processes, policies and contracts, and their attitude and confidentiality. Because they choose to present a professional front, they put all the necessary measures to ensure that they show up powerfully and build strong relationships with their clients. They communicate clearly and professionally, meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work, take responsibility for their mistakes, and maintain a positive and can-do attitude. They also prioritize confidentiality and data security, adhere to any confidentiality agreements or protocols, and keep their clients’ sensitive information safe.
In addition to these three habits, successful virtual assistants also tend to have strong time-management skills, a clear understanding of their client’s needs and expectations, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development. They set clear boundaries, prioritize self-care to prevent burnout, and maintain their productivity and creativity.
By adopting these habits, virtual assistants can build successful and sustainable businesses that not only meet their client’s needs but also support their personal and professional growth.
